Cops have person of interest in hotel slaying

Homicide detectives have a person of interest in the murder of Patrick Michael Brady, the Chester County man who was found strangled and beaten inside a room at the Omni Hotel at 4th and Chestnut streets on Saturday.

Police spokesman Lt. Raymond Evers said Brady’s death was not a random incident, and that investigators could soon have an arrest warrant together. The killer set Brady’s hotel room on fire, but the blaze was contained to the room and extinguished quickly by firefighters. Evers said the killer stole some of Brady’s personal items before fleeing.

The 49-year-old married father lived in Thorndale, and recently worked on an IT project for Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Friends said earlier tonight that a viewing would be held Friday night at Saint Joseph Church in Downington. Another viewing will be held at the church on Saturday morning, prior to Brady's funeral. He will be buried at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Montgomery County.